Seven Key Truths about Jesus

Talk 4: His Bodily Resurrection

This talk will be divided into two parts:

The evidence for the resurrection
The implications of the resurrection

1 I have titled The Most Important Question in the World

2 I have titled Ten Truths from the Empty Tomb

The Most Important Question in the World

(Taken from Nicky Gumbel’s Bible Reading Plan 2019)

The brilliant professor of philosophy at London University, C.E.M. Joad, was not a Christian. He was asked on a radio programme, ‘If you could meet any person from the past and ask them just one question, whom would you meet and what question would you ask?’

Professor Joad answered without hesitation: ‘I would meet Jesus Christ and ask him the most important question in the world – “Did you or did you not rise from the dead?”’

There came a day in Professor Joad’s life when he assessed the evidence, encountered Jesus himself and wrote a book called, Recovery of Belief. If Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, this changes everything.

The resurrection isn’t just an historical fact or religious idea; it is a life-changing reality. God promises that as you go about fulfilling his commission, the presence of the resurrected Jesus goes with you.

In Matthew 28, when the women see the empty tomb the angel tells them, ‘He is not here; he has risen… you will see him’ (vv.6–7).

Filled with ‘great joy’ they ran to tell the disciples. As they did so, ‘Jesus met them’ (v.9). They experienced the presence of the risen Jesus (vv.8–10), ‘clasped his feet’ (v.9) and worshipped him as God (vv.9b,17a).

The attempts of others to explain away the empty tomb began very early on (v.13) and, in spite of all the evidence, not everyone believed (v.17b). It was suggested that ‘his disciples… stole him away while [the soldiers] were asleep’ (v.13). Some people still postulate this explanation. But it does not fit the evidence:

The disciples were discouraged and frightened. Only the miracle of the resurrection could have transformed them

They did not expect Jesus to rise from the dead. They had no motive to steal the body

The tomb was heavily guarded (27:62–66)

They were not the only ones who saw Jesus. Many others saw him after the resurrection and interacted with him over a period of forty days (Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:6)

If the disciples did steal the body, their whole lives thereafter were based on a lie. My friend Ian Walker, a Cambridge scientist, became a Christian because he could not believe that the disciples would have been willing to be tortured and put to death for something they would have known was not true.

It really is true. Jesus is risen. Death and burial are not the end. In Christ, you too will be raised from the dead.

2. Ten Truths from the Empty Tomb

5 Truths About GOD

The Existence of God

1 Peter 1:21

Though Him you believe in God who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

The Word of God

Acts 2:24-25

God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for death to keep its hold on Him

FOR (AV) David said about Him… (Ps. 16)

The Power of God

Eph. 1:18-20

I pray… that you may know…his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead

The Son of God

Romans 1:4

Declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord

The Judgment (Day) of God

Acts 17:31

He has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead

5 Truths about the Christian

We have been born again

1 Peter 1:3-4

He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance…

We are accounted righteous

Romans 4:24-25

God will credit righteousness for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification

We are continually being saved

Romans 5:9-10

Since we have been justified by his blood, how much more shall be saved from God’s wrath through Him. For if when we were sinners we were reconciled by his death, how much more shall we be reconciled by his life?

Romans 8:34

Christ was raised to life and is interceding for us.

We walk in newness of life

Romans 6:4

As Christ was raised from the dead, we too may live a new life

Romans 7:4

…raised from the dead in order that we might bear fruit to God

We will rise from the dead (firstfruits)

1 Thessalonians 4:14

…Jesus died and rose again…God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him

2 Corinthians 4:14

We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead will also raise us with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.